> Ps anyone seen anything particularly interesting in the world of
> imaging recently? Please share, it seems to be Cyber-shot heaven round
> here at the moment
>

Below are a few “interesting” things that I’ve come across. Some of them may have already been sent around, but I think they’re all worth a review.

If any of you would like to chat about how iD could help SE understand/activate these ideas and themes to create buzz and traction around Cyber-shot (and thus help people buy), lemme know.

Have an excellent weekend,
~G~

Photosynth
I think this is spectacular.
http://labs.live.com/photosynth/view.html?collection=NASAColl/LaunchPad/index.sxs&st=coll <http://labs.live.com/photosynth/view.html?collection=NASAColl/LaunchPad/index.sxs&st=coll> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p16frKJLVi0 http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129
http://labs.live.com/photosynth/video.html
Photosynth is a software technology preview from Microsoft Live Labs and the University of Washington that analyzes digital photographs to build a three-dimensional point cloud of a photographed object. Pattern recognition components compare portions of images to create points, which are then compared to convert the image into a model. Currently, users can view models built by Microsoft or the BBC, but not create their own models.

Radar
Mobile/online imagery that create “conversations”.
http://www.smstextnews.com/2008/01/instant_picture_conversations_with_radar_-_the_application_of_the_week.html
This week’s application is Radar, a phenomenally well put together service that enables picture conversations online and on-the-go. If photo sharing site Flickr is Web 2.0, then Radar is Mobile 3.0. Or something like that… The entire service has been conceived to run from your mobile, not as a bit-part of the overall experience. Yes there’s an online element for those sat at desks, but Radar is all about mobility. You can easily upload photos from your handset and all your subscribed friends can instantly see — and crucially, comment — on the photo. You can then easily see who’s been commenting and reply back and, before you know it, get into a dialogue with your friends about the picture. All by phone. That’s the way to do it.

Flickrvision
Hypnotic global entertainment, all based on geo-located photos. http://flickrvision.com/
Flickrvision shows realtime, geolocated Flickr photos. Just like Twittervision, it’s hypnotic to watch. The map moves around to show the location of the most recent tweet or photo. Both visualizations hail from David Troy, a VOIP consultant who has suddenly found himself doing a lot of geo work. See: http://www.i-boy.com/weblog/2007/05/site-of-day-flickrvision.html

Animoto
Incredibly easy to use … and creates fantastic content. http://animoto.com/
Animoto is a web application that automatically generates professionally produced videos, each a customized orchestration of user-selected images and music. Using patent-pending Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology and high-end motion design, the result is a user’s own personal creation with the visual energy of a music video and the emotional impact of a movie trailer.

And finally … Interestingness! http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/
Besides being a five syllable word suitable for tongue twisters, it is also an amazing new Flickr Feature. There are lots of elements that make something ‘interesting’ (or not) on Flickr. Where the clickthroughs are coming from; who comments on it and when; who marks it as a favorite; its tags and many more things which are constantly changing. Interestingness changes over time, as more and more fantastic content and stories are added to Flickr.

I’ve always been impressed by the information that Dave Balter and the team at BzzAgent share through their BeeLog.

It makes sense — no confidentiality is broken and it allows people that are evaluating the company (clients, potential employees, partners) to educate themselves about their business and be smarter when working with the company. It also broadens the number of people that can give their input into what the company is doing — input which generally makes the company smarter.

It also a great tool for management — a forum for instant public recognition. Whether putting someone’s “name up in lights,” or “naming and shaming,” a company blog is a sort of a light-weight version of the more traditional atomic bomb, the press release.

Here is a great example BzzAgent did thinking about how they are working with their advisory board.

Basically the team at BzzAgent inserted a joke slide in their advisory board presentation entitled “Investor / Advisor Litigation Update.” Clearly a title that should get peoples’ attention. And of course under half noticed the slide or commented on it in their feedback to the company.

It is the bane of the world we’ve created that no one has time (or being busy has become fashionable?) and that business people don’t read, they only scan. Pretty soon we’ll need comment buttons on the bottom of e-mails and powerpoint presentations where people can indicate they actually reviewed them.

In the early days, before we had an official Corporate Board, we met a few times and we worked with a number of individuals to help us with specific projects such as patenting our WOM process and the best approach to certain partnerships. But as the company accelerated, and we’ve added board members, executives and staff, it’s been immensely difficult to utilize this group of experts. Individually, each would gladly help if we reached out, but as a whole this cluster is relatively distant. [more]